Jackson Rejoins Baseball Coaching Staff, Howell Takes On Expanded Role

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Further enhancing an elite coaching staff that led North Carolina to its 12th College World Series appearance in June, UNC has named Scott Jackson as an Assistant Coach and Recruiting Coordinator and Jason Howell as its Director of Pitching Performance, Development and Analytics.

Jackson, who has a history of developing Major League talent, returns to Carolina after eight seasons as the head coach at Liberty. He led the Flames to three NCAA Regional appearances (2019, 2021 and 2022), including two at-large selections in 2021 and 2022. Howell is an innovator who has played a pivotal role in leading Carolina Baseball's broadened use of pitching-specific technologies—a focus that will continue in this new and key role.

"I'm thrilled to announce the return of Scott Jackson to the Carolina Baseball program and the new role for Jason Howell,'' UNC head coach Scott Forbes said. "Both men will join assistant head coach/pitching coach Bryant Gaines and hitting coach Jesse Wierzbicki on our coaching staff, and I'm extremely grateful to have them by my side. These four great men and leaders will give our players everything they have daily to help them maximize their potential."

Jackson led the Flames to 43 wins and their first ASUN Championship in 2019, securing the conference's NCAA automatic bid, and was named ASUN Coach of the Year. Liberty had three players selected in the Major League Baseball (MLB) Draft that season, including two pitchers mentored by Gaines, who spent three seasons (2017-19) as the pitching coach at Liberty under Jackson before returning to UNC.

Prior to Liberty, Jackson spent time in various assistant coach and recruiting coordinator roles at UNC (2009-2016), Liberty (2008), UNCW (2003-2007), Campbell (2002), Barton (2001) and Wofford (2000).

"I'm thankful that Coach Forbes has offered me a chance to return to North Carolina as an assistant coach,'' Jackson said. "I am eternally thankful for the support [Vice President and Director of Athletics] Ian McCaw gave me during my time at Liberty, and I'm proud of what we accomplished. My family and I are excited to return to Chapel Hill and to coach alongside a man who is one of my closest friends."

During Jackson's first stint in Chapel Hill, the Tar Heels posted a record of 379-180 (0.678), made seven NCAA Tournament appearances and advanced to the College World Series on three occasions (2009, 2011 and 2013). While in Chapel Hill, he helped assemble seven top-seven recruiting classes from 2010 to 2016, including the top-ranked class in 2016, which featured Tyler Baum, Austin Bergner and current Major Leaguer Michael Busch.

"Scott is a long-time friend of mine dating back to when we coached together with the Wilmington Sharks in 2000, and I'm so excited to have him back at North Carolina and on our coaching staff,'' Forbes said. "He has a long track record of recruiting exceptional baseball players and young men and developing them into the best version of themselves. Our players and our program will benefit greatly from his expertise."

Howell recently completed his fourth season with the Tar Heels after rejoining the coaching staff in the Fall of 2020. He played a key role in leading the program's enhancement and use of pitching-specific technologies, including Trackman and Edgertronic, and in implementing the Newtforce mound, which provides access to cutting-edge ground force data capture abilities. He assisted in the development of three All-America selections and four All-ACC honorees while posting the lowest team ERA in the conference.

"Jason has always been an innovative and knowledgeable baseball mind, and I'm excited for him to take on expanded responsibilities in this new role," Forbes said. "He will continue to work closely with Coach Gaines to help our pitchers maximize their performance on the field and in the weight room to enhance their development while also taking on new responsibilities."

The Tar Heels have appeared in the NCAA Tournament in each of Howell's six seasons as a member of the coaching staff, advancing to the College World Series in 2006, 2007 and 2024. Since his return to the coaching staff in 2020, eight Tar Heel pitchers have been selected in the MLB Draft, and four more have signed undrafted free agent contracts.

"This new role allows me to apply my experience to the Tar Heel pitching staff in the most cutting-edge ways to maximize their potential for growth and development," Howell said. "Each pitcher possesses unique strengths and mechanics, allowing for a natural ability to produce outs. My approach is to guide our guys with tailored enhancements that will assist them in reaching their next level of success."

Before returning to his alma mater, Howell served as an Area Scouting Supervisor for the Chicago White Sox in 2019-2020, following a seven-year stint as pitching coach and recruiting coordinator (2013-2019) at Georgia Tech. He also spent five years (2008-2012) as an assistant coach at UNCW.

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Jackson Rejoins Baseball Coaching Staff, Howell Takes On Expanded Role

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